Midterm 300 pts. Students will develop their own theory of family violence and explain how it
could be used in practice. Theory explains how some aspect of human behavior or performance
is organized. It thus enables us to make predictions about that behavior. The components of
theory are concepts (ideally well defined) and principles.
A concept is a symbolic representation of an actual thing - tree, chair, table, computer,
distance, etc.
Construct is the word for concepts with no physical referent - democracy, learning,
freedom, etc. Language enables conceptualization.
A principle expresses the relationship between two or more concepts or constructs.
In the process of theory development, one derives principles based on one’s
examining/questioning how things/concepts are related.
Concepts and principles serve two important functions:
1) They help us to understand or explain what is going on around us.
2) They help us predict future events. (Can be causal or co
elational)
That’s what theory is: the summary and synthesis of what is known about a field.
It is the reduction of our knowledge to the basic ideas, presented in a way that
shows their underlying patterns and relationships. (Moore, 1991:2)
A theory is a related set of concepts and principles
- about a phenomenon
- the purpose of which is to explain or predict the phenomenon
Why theory is important
1. Theory provides concepts to name what we observe and to explain
elationships between concepts. Theory allows us to explain what we see and
to figure out how to
ing about change. Theory is a tool that enables us to
identify a problem and to plan a means for altering the situation.
2. Theory is to justify reimbursement to get funding and support - need to
explain what is being done and demonstrate that it works - theory and
esearch
3. Theory is to enhance the growth of the professional area to identify a body
of knowledge with theories from both within and without the area of distance
learning. That body of knowledge grows with theory and research. Theory
guides research.
For the purpose of this assignment you will utilize the following theory development
process:
The Theory-practice-theory- take an existing theory from the Psychiatric Model,
Social-Psychological Model, or Sociocultural Model, to apply to family violence, to
develop a new theory.
Step One: Choose an existing theory from the Psychiatric Model, Social-Psychological
Model, or Sociocultural Model outline in your textbook.
Step Two: Explain how it is applied to family violence in general and how it
shaped/influenced your theory. Detail why you are including the specific ideas they
developed.
Step Three: Reveal your “new” theory. Give it a name. Discuss the concepts and
principles of your theory. Make sure you answer the two following questions:
1. How does your concepts and principles help us to understand or explain what
is going on around us?
2. How does your concept and principles help us predict future events?